Spectrum Says 99% of Hurricane Outages Restored, But Some Customers Losing Service Again

PENSACOLA, FL (NewsRadio 92.3) -- Spectrum says service has been restored to approximately 99% of customers affected by Hurricane Isaias, but the continuing cleanup is creating new outages in some Northwest Florida neighborhoods.

Spectrum Public Affairs Manager Tracy White says extensive tree and infrastructure damage in the Pensacola area has complicated the restoration process.

As trees are removed, utility poles are replaced and heavy equipment moves through neighborhoods, communications lines that Spectrum crews have already repaired are sometimes damaged or have to be moved again.

In some cases, that means customers who had their internet, television or phone service restored are losing it a second time.

Several heavily damaged areas also remain difficult or unsafe for technicians to access.

Spectrum has brought crews into the area from Florida, Texas, the Carolinas, Virginia and Tennessee to assist with restoration.

The company says crews will continue working remaining outages as damaged areas become accessible.

Spectrum previously announced automatic bill credits and free equipment replacement for customers affected by the hurricane.

Customers who lose service again during neighborhood cleanup or see damaged Spectrum lines are encouraged to report the problem directly to the company.

Millions of Cubic Yards of Hurricane Debris Await Removal Across Northwest Florida

PENSACOLA, FL (NewsRadio 92.3) -- Hundreds of thousands of cubic yards of Hurricane Isaias debris have already disappeared from Northwest Florida roadsides, but local governments say millions more remain.

Escambia County contractors have collected approximately 330,000 cubic yards of storm debris in more than 7,400 loads. That total does not include additional debris collected by county employees.

The county estimates Hurricane Isaias generated approximately 2.2 million cubic yards of vegetative debris.

About 236 collection units are currently working throughout Escambia County, along with 40 bucket trucks assisting with damaged and fallen trees.

Across the county line, Santa Rosa County has collected more than 250,000 cubic yards of vegetative debris and more than 200 cubic yards of construction and demolition material.

Santa Rosa recently increased its estimate of total storm debris from 1.5 million to 1.8 million cubic yards. The county estimates removal will cost approximately $23 million.

The City of Pensacola says contractors have collected more than 3,200 loads. The city's contractor projects the Pensacola cleanup will ultimately involve approximately one million cubic yards of debris.

Milton is dealing with an unusually large amount of debris for a city covering only about six square miles.

City Manager Ed Spears told NewsRadio 92.3 that Milton estimates approximately 400,000 cubic yards of vegetative debris and another 35,000 cubic yards of construction and demolition material were generated by the storm.

Milton expects debris removal to continue through the end of November.

All four jurisdictions are planning multiple collection passes.

Residents are being asked to keep vegetative material separate from construction and demolition debris and avoid placing piles where they block roads, drainage systems, fire hydrants or utilities.

Sen. Rick Scott Visits Israel, Meets with Israeli Leadership

U.S. Senator Rick Scott, a Florida Republican who serves on the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees, traveled to Israel this week to reaffirm U.S. support for the country and discuss bilateral cooperation, according to a statement from his office released today.

During the visit, Scott met with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, Israeli Defense Forces members, and U.S. military personnel stationed there. He traveled to the Golan Heights and Israel's Northern Command, where he received briefings on military operations in southern Lebanon. Scott also met with the mayor of Majdal Shams and members of the Druze community affected by a 2024 Hezbollah attack on a soccer field that killed 12 children.

Scott emphasized the strategic value of the U.S.-Israel partnership, highlighting collaboration on border security, defense technology, healthcare, and medicine production. "Israel is the good guy," Scott said in a statement, adding that the alliance represents the model for how "America First alliances should operate."

This marks Scott's seventh trip to Israel since his election as Florida governor in 2010. The visit comes after recent trips by the senator to Cyprus and Greece to discuss NATO security and Mediterranean collective defense.